Kevin stood in front of the mirror distractedly trying to adjust his tie. He did not understand why their management insisted he had to go to this dance tonight. Although he agreed that they needed to make appearances as a group, tonight was a benefit for a friend of Nick's parents and it was Nick and Aaron that were going to be singing, not Backstreet Boys. He had not made any public appearances since the accident that had resulted in his amnesia and he definitely was not ready to start tonight.

He jerked his tie off, threw it on the floor and angrily paced the room, stopping to stare out the window. Anger welled up inside him as he thought how all his memories from before the accident were now gone, and the feeling that he no longer had control over his own life overwhelmed him. No matter how hard he tried...no matter how many times everyone patiently told him about the past...there was just nothing there that he could remember. Suddenly he exploded, punching a hole in the wall.

"Kev?" she said softly.

He whirled around at the sound of her voice. "What the hell do you want from me!" he yelled, his eyes dark with anger, indifferent to the pain as blood started to trickle down his knuckles.

She stood in the doorway and allowed him to continue his angry tirade, watching as he slammed around the room, throwing anything in his reach. Since the accident had taken his memory, she had learned to allow him to vent his frustration. Only then would he allow her to reach him, although only as a friend and never as his wife.

His tirade finally relented and he slouched against the wall in defeat, staring out the window at nothing in particular. She moved to his side, touching his arm softly. "It's OK. I understand how frustrated you are right now but your memory will come back. You just need to give yourself some time."

"And what if I never get it back?" He asked dejectedly without looking at her.

"You will." She took his hand. "Come on. We need to clean this up."

He followed her in silence to the bathroom and let her clean his hand, closing his eyes as he leaned his head against the cool tile wall. "I'm sorry." He whispered.

"It's OK, Kev." She lightly brushed the hair back off his face. His emerald green eyes met hers and she saw the mixture of frustration and desperation. "And what am I supposed to do if someone asks something I can't answer tonite?"

She kissed him on the cheek. "We have it all planned. The guys will make sure you are never put in that position."

"I still think management should have just told everyone I have amnesia rather than covering it up." He sighed and went to finish getting dressed.

The benefit went smoothly as they had planned. Nick and Aaron put on an incredible show. AJ, Howie and Brian made sure that one of them was with Kevin at all times. Kevin answered the questions they had rehearsed and allowed the other guys to answer the rest. They were good actors. No one suspected anything out of the ordinary.

As she had planned, for the last song of the night, Nick asked everyone to take someone special to the dance floor. At Nick's request, AJ and Howie took their dates to the dance floor, motioning for Kevin to join them, but Kevin shook his head and stood staring stiffly ahead without moving, his jaw set in determination.

"Come on, Kevin." Brian put his hand on Kevin's shoulder, trying to gauge just how much further Kevin could be pushed tonight. Although Kevin had kept up a good appearance throughout the benefit, it was obvious that he was rapidly reaching his breaking point.

"No, Bri." He ran his fingers through his long hair, pulling it back off his face defiantly.

Brian could see Nick watching them from the stage and breathed a small sigh of relief that Nick realized the plan had hit a snag. Nick put the back up plan into action, thanking everyone who had come out to support the benefit while the music played softly in the background, giving them the chance to try to get Kevin to the dance floor.

"Go ahead, Brian." She smiled at Brian as he tried to object, his blue eyes full of concern. Then she physically turned him around and pushed him toward the dance floor, motioning to his wife "He's all yours, Leigh." Brian walked slowly onto the dance floor. He had been so hopeful that her plan would work. She had been so confident that their music would be the key to Kevin's memory. It was one thing Kevin had refused to try, insisting it was too painful to think about.

Kevin watched Brian and Leigh walk onto the dance floor, and then shook his head again. "No."

She put her arm around his waist. He let out a weary sigh and closed his eyes, softly whispering, "I don't think I even remember how."

She smiled softly at him, gently drawing her fingers across his cheek and into his hair, pulling it back behind his ear. "Some things you don't forget. Give yourself a chance." Intense green eyes studied hers for a long minute before giving in. As they walked onto the dance floor, Nick flashed them his world famous grin, while she caught Brian giving her a thumbs up behind Kevin's back.

Nick's voice filled the room as he began to sing "I need you tonight". At first Kevin danced reluctantly, stiffly holding his body away from her like he would a stranger. Half way into the chorus, he finally relaxed and allowed her to move close against him. He rested his head against hers, his breath warm on her neck, and she could not stop a shiver from running through her body. She wrapped her hands behind his head, tangling her fingers in his long, soft hair. Nervously she rocked her hips into his, teasing and tempting him, not quite sure what his reaction would be. He moaned deep in his throat and kissed her neck before he lifted his head.

She watched as his expression changed from apprehensive to surprised and then suddenly softened as he quietly began singing along with Nick, not missing a word. He blinked back the tears that threatened to spill from his eyes and gently touched her face.

"Nick sang this song for us at our wedding." His voice was deep and husky, the words catching in his throat as the memories returned. She smiled at him through her own tears. He leaned over and kissed her softly. Even after Nick stopped singing, Kevin held her tight without moving from the dance floor, his breath a whisper in her ear, growing happier by the second as he realized his memory had truly returned. "Most of all, I remember how much I love you."

Brian moved next to them, concern written across his face. "Hey, Kev, you guys OK?" AJ and Howie stood behind him trying to decide exactly what was happening.

"Go away, Cuz. Nick's nice enough to sing our wedding song. Let me dance with my wife in peace." Kevin replied in mock anger, his green eyes sparkling and a smile slowly spreading across his face.

The look on Brian's face was priceless as it dawned on him that Kevin knew this was his wedding song. An enormous grin lit up his face and he pulled Kevin into an emotional hug. "Kev...you can...can you...do you?"

Kevin grinned. "When you figure out what you're trying to say, call us. Ummm...on the other hand, don't call us, we'll call you." He took her hand and, with a final pat on Brian's shoulder, lead her out the door.

Once in the car, he pulled her into a passionate kiss, his tongue reacquainting with her mouth as soon as their lips touched. Breathless, Kevin stuck the keys in the ignition. All he could think of was how much longer the ride home seemed with an erection straining against the zipper of his pants, and her hand rubbing his thigh.

Kevin's suit jacket was off before they were in the door. Grinning mischievously, she took hold of his tie and led him to the bedroom, pushing him down onto the bed. He sucked in a sharp breath as she pulled her dress around her thighs and climbed up to straddle his hips being sure to rub teasingly against the hardness still trapped in his pants. After removing his tie, she began unbuttoning his shirt as she kissed his neck alternating soft kisses with little nips. Untucking his shirt from his pants, she unbuttoned the last button and starting kissing down his chest, licking his nipples as he unzipped her dress. She unbuckled his belt and undid his pants while her tongue traced a path from his chest, down his stomach to the soft hair that led from his belly button into his now too tight pants. She sat up on his thighs to relieve herself of her dress, then moved to his side to remove his pants, needing to feel his heated skin against hers.

It had been too long since they had been together and all he could think of was that he needed to be inside her now. Quickly he flipped her onto her back and kissed her intensely, rubbing his throbbing erection against her. He moaned low and deep at the feelings pulsing through his body. He quickly thrust into her, throwing his head back and gasping for breath as she rocked her hips to meet him. His body and mind focused on the sensations coursing through him as her movements drove him deeper into her. She stroked his nipples and felt him start to spiral out of control, panting erratically as he thrust into her frantically, screaming out her name as his body tensed with his orgasm, bringing her with him.

Content, he rolled onto his back, holding her tight with her head on his chest. His breathing had just about returned back to normal when he laughed softly and rolled onto his side, resting his head on his arm.

She lifted her head and looked at him in surprise. "Dare I ask?"

His green eyes sparkled and a smile played on his lips. "If I remember this right, now it's your turn for the top."

And before she could say another word, he pulled her into a heated kiss, his erection pressed into her side.

5-26-02